YOUR LOCAL FIELD GUIDE
McDuffie Public Fishing Area
Seven managed ponds near Dearing provide bank, pier and boat fishing amid longleaf pines and sandy uplands. Picnic shelters, restrooms, a hiking trail, archery facilities and reservable camping broaden the visit beyond fishing, while active hunting and pond-specific rules require a current check.
One of the managed lakes at McDuffie Public Fishing Area in Dearing. · Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division · Credits & licenses
Photo sources & dates (1)
- McDuffie Public Fishing Area lake
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division · Photograph date not supplied
View source page · Original imageCurrent Georgia DNR photograph; photographer and capture date are not published.
Source links identify the published photographs. Copyright remains with the credited rightsholders; see photo credits and rights information.
What to expect
Seven managed ponds near Dearing provide bank, pier and boat fishing amid longleaf pines and sandy uplands. Picnic shelters, restrooms, a hiking trail, archery facilities and reservable camping broaden the visit beyond fishing, while active hunting and pond-specific rules require a current check.
Dearing · Qualifying license or Lands Pass required; fishing privileges separate · Half day or longer
McDuffie Public Fishing Area · 4695 Fish Hatchery Road SE, Dearing, GA 30808
Open year-round, sunrise–sunset; Jones Pond has limited night-fishing dates
Current state tourism and the Georgia Birding Trail publish sunrise-to-sunset access, with Jones Pond night fishing May 1–September 30. Older DNR guide text says 24 hours; use current posted signs and call about night access.
- Seven managed fishing ponds
- Fishing piers, ramps and picnic areas
- Longleaf-pine birding and wildlife habitat
Before you go 
- Visitors age 16 and over generally need a qualifying hunting or fishing license or Lands Pass unless an exemption applies; anglers also need fishing privileges.
- Rod Bender Lake is listed as open only from the 1st through 15th of each month. Check the entrance kiosk for pond, hunt and waterfowl notices.
- Do not plan around the former environmental-education boardwalk: DNR documented Hurricane Helene destruction and no reopening confirmation was found.
Sources & visitor information
Venue and visitor-bureau information checked on the dates below. Follow these links for current hours, admission and access.
- Georgia DNR — McDuffie PFA ↗
Current pond, species, facility, hunting and campground information plus the authentic lake photograph.
Checked - Explore Georgia — McDuffie Public Fishing Area ↗
Current address, phone, sunrise-to-sunset schedule, Rod Bender Lake dates and visitor facilities.
Checked - Georgia Birding Trail — McDuffie PFA ↗
Current birding habitat, accessible facilities, sunrise-to-sunset hours and Jones Pond night-fishing note.
Checked - Georgia DNR — licenses and passes ↗
Current access, fishing-license, Lands Pass and exemption guidance.
Checked - Georgia DNR 2025 wildlife report ↗
Boardwalk storm-damage evidence used to avoid promising access.
Checked
Visitor information phone: 706-595-1684
Visitor review notes
Selected visitor experiences, paraphrased from the linked reviews. These describe individual visits; check venue sources for current conditions.
Follow the review links for visitor feedback; no dated review excerpt has been verified for this listing.
Check the organizer’s latest details before leaving; schedules and availability can change.
Explore Dearing